sid_guardian | Slo-Mo Rewatch: Guardian episode 6, part 2

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Slo-Mo Rewatch: Guardian episode 6, part 2

Zhao Yunlan sprawled on a couch, grinning at his phone. The background shows a purple sky with stars. Text reads, "Slo-Mo Rewatch. Guardian - half an episode per week @ sid_guardian.dreamwidth.org"

Hi, welcome to this week's instalment of the Guardian drama Slo-Mo Rewatch! Watch half an episode a week, and then come and chat about it here in comments. Or you can just jump into the comments without rewatching, of course!

Here is last week's half-episode. On to the second half!

Episode 6, from 22:44

Summary:

Zhao Yunlan returns to Zhou Weiwei and makes her admit the truth: she switched places with Mirror Girl, and that was who was engaged to Ji Xiaobai. Ji Xiaobai, having confirmed what he already knew, isn't interested in a replacement goldfish. Mirror Girl tells the Envoy about a phrase her father used to repeat.

Then Zhao Yunlan and Da Qing talk about Shen Wei being suspicious, break into his flat, find his file on the SID, and have to hide when Shen Wei arrives. Zhao Yunlan sends a smoke messenger to the Regent, and a banner with a spy camera to Shen Wei. Da Qing teases him about his interest in the Envoy. Shen Wei confronts the uni's chancellor about Li Qian withdrawing, and has a brief conversation with Zhao Yunlan. Zhu Jiu puts a new agent in play. Finally, at night, Shen Wei is mugged by two thugs.

Quote:

Da Qing: "In this world, two people can be very close, but have never seen each other. But maybe once they've met, they'll see each other every day. Destiny is unpredictable."

Zhao Yunlan: "Damn Fatty, I never knew that you were a poetic cat."

Detail:

Zhao Yunlan: 这个也很好看，衣服真漂亮。我想给我女朋友买一件，哪买的呀？
This [photo] is nice as well; pretty outfit. I want to buy one for my girlfriend. Where'd you buy it?

I remember from the early days that fandom had decided Zhao Yunlan was talking about the coat Mirror Girl was wearing in the photo, and had related it to the similar trenchcoat Shen Wei wears in later episodes. And that despite the fact that the English subs - all of them: the original ones and the ones that came later, Solo's and the Viki ones - say "shirt"! Of course the Chinese only says 衣服, clothes, and IIRC this concept originally came from the Chinese side of fandom.

Questions:

What's your favourite part in this half of the episode? Do you think Shen Wei is too harsh on Mirror Girl? Do you feel for Ji Xiaobai? for the human Zhou Weiwei? Why is Zhao Yunlan stepping up the investigation into Shen Wei? Do you think the spy camera is warranted? Why does Shen Wei respond to being mugged like that, when he could easily defeat the muggers? Any thoughts about how any of this relates to the novel?

(These are all just conversation starters - feel free to answer all, some, or none, and to say as much or as little as you like! You don't have to be keeping up with the rewatch to join in!)

And here is our schedule for the next batch of episodes - please do sign up to host a post if you can!

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"Ohhhhhh, maybe there's an unspoken part to "You and him are from different worlds," which is "and he didn't know/you didn't tell him (yet)"?? That would account for the difference between WYK/ZRN and the other examples. After all, mirror Weiwei's story would have gone very differently if JXB had known (and had time to accept) in advance."

Ohhhhh omg, this is a fantastic observation, yes!! Damn, it really would have changed everything for them.

So basically Shen Wei thinks that Zhao Yunlan also deserves to know who Shen Wei is, but he doesn't know how much ZYL can know because of potential timeline shenanigans, which gives SW a really good reason to angst about it in this context, without relying on the novel context at all. :D This is really neat!

"Ahhhhh, the swipe!! It's like he's speaking Cat!! And he has his hands behind his head just like DQ did earlier!! ADORABLE! :D :D :D"

Yessss! :D :D :D I know I've linked it before but: the gifset that shows how much Zhao Yunlan was raised by Da Qing. :D

"I had the exact same question about Lin Jing, lol. It looks like they put a tracker on SW, but surely not!!"

*high five on the confusion* It also looks like Lin Jing didn't just let them know where SW lives, they also know that he isn't home right now.

"Pretty sure ZYL has lockpicks, not keys."

Ahh, I didn't think of that, thanks. :D (Even rewatching doesn't help much because he just waves them around the entire time. xD)

"I think ZYL probably thinks GCC should work it out for himself, and he doesn't want to deal with CC crying over the separated lovers and lobbying to bring mirror Weiwei back, lol."

Lol, this sounds like a very good reason, yep! The 'you'll understand when you're older' thing is pretty weird in this context, but I'm assuming ZYL was just busy or annoyed and this was his way of telling GCC to piss off, and obviously GCC remembers and writes down everything verbatim. xD :D

"And ZH is angry with JXB for not sticking up for his (non-human) girlfriend -- I expect there's some defensiveness/projection going on there, ZH wondering if ZYL hasn't fallen for her because she's Yashou?"

Ohhh, and that makes so much sense too! I didn't get it (from GCC's POV what she says sounds like they shouldn't have broken up, and I couldn't figure out what else she could have meant), thanks! :D And lolol poor Zhu Hong, is she in for a surprise re: Zhao Yunlan and non-humans. xD

"Yeah, I think so. :D ZYL saved her life and feels responsible? Also, I headcanon there's some fellow-feeling of having lost a loving mother/grandmother figure through traumatic circumstances... *smishes*"

AW! ♡ Damn, that's really sweet that he still checks in on her, I love it so much. I've never paid attention to this line before. ♡

And lolol poor Zhu Hong, is she in for a surprise re: Zhao Yunlan and non-humans. xD

Hee! :D

So basically Shen Wei thinks that Zhao Yunlan also deserves to know who Shen Wei is, but he doesn't know how much ZYL can know because of potential timeline shenanigans, which gives SW a really good reason to angst about it in this context, without relying on the novel context at all. :D

Yes, that's how I see it. :D :D :D (I can get them together earlier, of course, even before the Envoy reveal, but in that case I usually want ZYL to at least be pretty sure Shen Wei is Dixingren.)

Ahhh, I'd forgotten that gifset! Thanks so much for linking again!! :D :D :D

It also looks like Lin Jing didn't just let them know where SW lives, they also know that he isn't home right now.

I don't think that can be right. Wouldn't that mean they can track him? In which case, Lin Jing should have messaged them to say SW was on his way home?

(Even rewatching doesn't help much because he just waves them around the entire time. xD)

I know! I have a feeling that we see him picking locks some other time, but I might be confabulating or remembering a fanwork...

And lolol poor Zhu Hong, is she in for a surprise re: Zhao Yunlan and non-humans. xD

Ha! Yes!! :D

Damn, that's really sweet that he still checks in on her, I love it so much. I've never paid attention to this line before. ♡

:D :D :D (I'm honestly not sure how much it's canon vs headcaon, ftr.)

"Yes, that's how I see it. :D :D :D (I can get them together earlier, of course, even before the Envoy reveal, but in that case I usually want ZYL to at least be pretty sure Shen Wei is Dixingren.)"

Hee, yeah, I don’t generally go from 'the character thinks it would be a good idea if things happened this way' to 'this is how I want things to happen' - I like it impulsive and possibly ill-advised choices quite a lot. :D

"I don't think that can be right. Wouldn't that mean they can track him? In which case, Lin Jing should have messaged them to say SW was on his way home?"

This is why this scene confuses me, because some parts of it looks like they're tracking him when they're clearly not, lol. Which makes me wonder if it's some kind of leftover of a scene in which they were, idk. (I was wondering if there's a novel equivalent and I don't think there is, but now I'm thinking that this entire scene is a reference to Zhao Yunlan breaking into Shen Wei’s secret shrine room. :D)

"I have a feeling that we see him picking locks some other time, but I might be confabulating or remembering a fanwork..."

Hah, and that novel scene is also where he picks a lock. :D Albeit without lockpicks. xD

":D :D :D (I'm honestly not sure how much it's canon vs headcaon, ftr.)"

Hee, no, I get it - I have no idea why exactly he wants to visit her, I just think it's sweet that he does. :D

I don’t generally go from 'the character thinks it would be a good idea if things happened this way' to 'this is how I want things to happen'

Ha, yeah, that's a great point!

Hee, yeah, I don’t generally go from 'the character thinks it would be a good idea if things happened this way' to 'this is how I want things to happen' - I like it impulsive and possibly ill-advised choices quite a lot. :D

LOL, fair enough!! <3 Meanwhile, I enjoy the dutiful repression and having some obstacles to overcome, so I probably lean into it. *g*

This is why this scene confuses me, because some parts of it looks like they're tracking him when they're clearly not, lol.

It's the way it kind of circles in, isn't it? I suspect it's just an attempt to have visually interesting graphics.

but now I'm thinking that this entire scene is a reference to Zhao Yunlan breaking into Shen Wei’s secret shrine room. :D

OMG, it totally is!! He breaks into Shen Wei's private space and finds (instead of stalker photos) a stalker SID file!!!!!! Wow, that seems so obvious, now that you say it! :D :D :D Ahhhhhh!! What was his reaction to the shrine in the novel? He called off the movers, but was there anything else?

I just think it's sweet that he does. :D

Exactly! <3

He breaks into Shen Wei's private space and finds (instead of stalker photos) a stalker SID file!!!!!!

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's so obvious now you put it like this! OMG!

(IIRC in the novel ZYL just stared at the portraits and such, then quietly backed out and called off the movers.)

Right?!?! It's all coming together. :D :D :D

(IIRC in the novel ZYL just stared at the portraits and such, then quietly backed out and called off the movers.)

Yes, I was wondering if there was an equivalent to contacting Dixing, but apparently not. :-)

Yes, I was wondering if there was an equivalent to contacting Dixing, but apparently not. :-)

Yeah. And I thought there maybe was something similar at a different point in the novel, but if there is, I can't find it.

I think the equivalent of contacting Dixing is asking the book from the Netherworld? When Zhao Yunlan uses Shen Wei's hair to find out who/what he is, and it says "soulless being". It's obviously pre-Emissary-reveal, so long before the break-in. (After the break-in ZYL does a lot of research in the library, but not right away.)

Oh yes, good point! I forgot about that. I was just looking at pre-Hanga things, but of course in the novel this is where the drinking-and-passing-out happens! *headdesk*

"LOL, fair enough!! <3 Meanwhile, I enjoy the dutiful repression and having some obstacles to overcome, so I probably lean into it. *g*"

Heee, I think we just named the id mismatch. :D :D ♡ (I love repression and obstacles too ftr, but the novelverse type - visceral and doomed, not reasonable and slow-burn-y, or something like that. :D And in the drama none of that is a thing, so they can happily get it on asap and then find out if it made anything complicated or not. ;D)

"It's the way it kind of circles in, isn't it? I suspect it's just an attempt to have visually interesting graphics."

Yep, it looks so weird for something that's supposed to find an address! But I guess that's the reason, yeah - what Lin Jing does rarely makes much sense visually. xD

"OMG, it totally is!! He breaks into Shen Wei's private space and finds (instead of stalker photos) a stalker SID file!!!!!! Wow, that seems so obvious, now that you say it! :D :D :D Ahhhhhh!! What was his reaction to the shrine in the novel? He called off the movers, but was there anything else?"

Right?? :D :D He specifically decides not to confront Shen Wei about it, so bascially the same outcome as in the drama. :D Now I'm wondering if it directly leads to more research, but I need to sleeeeep, lol. *checks anyway* It doesn't, not right away (there are many things happening in between, like visiting ZYL's mother and CSZ's shackles), but it does lead to the conversation with DQ where he says that he doesn't remember anything about his first owner! :D

He specifically decides not to confront Shen Wei about it, so bascially the same outcome as in the drama. :D

!!!!!! :D

but it does lead to the conversation with DQ where he says that he doesn't remember anything about his first owner!

Ooh, I had totally forgotten when that happens in the novel! Thanks for checking!

but the novelverse type - visceral and doomed, not reasonable and slow-burn-y, or something like that. :D

LOL, this was very useful to think about when writing my

fandomtrees signup -- thank you!! <3 <3 <3

what Lin Jing does rarely makes much sense visually. xD

Haha, that's true. He spends half his time making amazing cutting-edge gadgets, and the other half lovingly creating custom cases to keep them in. ;-D

It doesn't, not right away (there are many things happening in between, like visiting ZYL's mother and CSZ's shackles), but it does lead to the conversation with DQ where he says that he doesn't remember anything about his first owner! :D

Ahhhhh, perfect!! So they compressed it (but skipped over the Envoy reveal at this stage, because they had Big Plans for that :D :D :D). :D :D :D (Thanks so much for checking. I hope you're not suffering from insufficient sleep! *hugs*)

"LOL, this was very useful to think about when writing my fandomtrees signup -- thank you!! <3 <3 <3"

Heeee, yay! ♡♡♡ Looking forward to seeing you at

fandomtrees again! :D :D

"He spends half his time making amazing cutting-edge gadgets, and the other half lovingly creating custom cases to keep them in. ;-D"

Lololol, this is THE explanation - he has an aesthetic to maintain! xD :D

"Ahhhhh, perfect!! So they compressed it (but skipped over the Envoy reveal at this stage, because they had Big Plans for that :D :D :D). :D :D :D (Thanks so much for checking. I hope you're not suffering from insufficient sleep! *hugs*)"

Yesss, and after thinking about it some more I'm once again SO IMPRESSED with the adaptation, because this scene is apparently another intricate puzzle made of novel scenes put in an entirely different order, sometimes with cause-effect added/swapped/removed. :D (Since Da Qing's quote is also from the novel, as

trobadora has said. ♡ I wouldn't have caught that myself at all!)

Like, here you have:
the break-in -> DQ is already there, says the fate quote -> DQ talks to ZYL about his first owner because the quote is directly related [->] the mugging

And then in the novel you have these four components in two parts:
pre-reveal: the mugging -> SW says the fate quote
much later, post-reveal: the break-in -> ZYL was alone but later DQ talks to him about his first owner because ZYL says that he saw a painting of Kunlun

And that's not all because in the novel the mugging happens between ZYL giving SW the books and passing out from stomach pain (he's out buying food after sulking and drinking and not eating for days, but it gets interrupted by SW being mugged). Which the drama also put in a completely different order, and now I'm curious to see during the rewatch if they also added other things from some later storylines. :D

(And *HUGS* I'm good - fannish squee > sleep. xD :D :D Later I stayed up even longer to stare lovingly at

tinny's new YOHE icons, hah. :D)

Ooh, thanks for laying out the novel/drama comparison like that! *sends a billions bouquets to the drama writers* :D

(Alas I can't look at the YOHE icons -- going by the tags, that post also contains DNW stuff for me.)

It's so neat, isn't itttt. :D :D

(AW, it sounds like that but it doesn't - the actors are tagged because of the characters. :D There are only two icons that are in any way Guardian-related, and they're both YOHE screencaps. :))

(Oh, great to know -- thanks! I suspect I've missed several of her Guardian icon posts because of tagging.)

because this scene is apparently another intricate puzzle made of novel scenes put in an entirely different order, sometimes with cause-effect added/swapped/removed

RIGHT??? I really enjoyed this scene before, but looking at it from this perspective makes it all the more impressive!

There are so many parallels with the novel starting with the mugging! I really need to take a look back at our novel discussion when we get to the gastritis episode especially. I've forgotten so many details!

They make the puzzle pieces so tiny that it's hard to find them again, but it's all the more satisfying when you do, hah. :D

Looking at the readalong posts is such a good idea! I don't think I was even here yet for those chapters. :D (Which means I'm not going to read tens/hundreds of comments, alas, but skimming sounds fun. :D)

I especially remember that we discussed the differences between the fan translation and the official translation - there were some big changes, and the official translation was closer to the drama, which led us to speculate that priest might have been inspired by the drama when she edited those chapters for whatever print edition was the basis of the official translation. I don't remember the details, but that's definitely something I want to come back to!

Ohhhh, I didn't even think of the different versions - I'll definitely want to check that! (Thank you for always compiling them! ♡♡♡) After the Shen San extra got their entire first time removed, and I keep seeing both versions in fanworks, I really like knowing what wildly different things are 'canon' depending on which version someone read. xD

IIRC this was one of the largest structural differences! Definitely worth checking out. :D

And yeah, what's canon is very fluid because of all of this! Definitely not my preference for my fandoms, LOL, so I lucked out with the drama. *g*

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Slo-Mo Rewatch: Guardian episode 6, part 2

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